Why an Aunty Jane Hotline?
Many people, women and men, young and old, do not have access to safe and reliable sexual and reproductive health information. Many people are unable to talk to family or friends about such sensitive and personal issues, and do not know where to turn with their questions. People who do not have access to sexual and reproductive health information are at greater risk of unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies, and post-partum hemorrhage.
It is a recognized fact that in Kenya, unsafe abortion and post-partum hemorrhage (dangerously heavy bleeding after giving birth) are the cause of most pregnancy-related deaths and injuries. Access to information about how to prevent post-partum hemorrhage and unsafe abortion, if put directly into the hands of the women that need it, can save women from injuries or even death.
Aunty Jane wants to make sure this information gets directly to those who need it, in a confidential, and reliable way. Most Kenyans do not have easy access to the internet and rely more on mobile phone use, especially the populations with the greatest unmet need for reliable sexual and reproductive health information. Aunty Jane wants to work with women in as many sectors of the population as possible to break communication and cultural barriers to spread this important life-saving information, and to format this information in a way that is user-friendly and relevant to the populace. The Aunty Jane hotline is available 24 hours a day, and allows callers to leave a message with their specific questions. Calls are charged at the normal rate, depending on cell phone provider, and callers can listen to the information as many times as necessary.